NEWS
Tuesday 13 March 2012
People’s Post Mitchell's Plain Page 3
Girl (6) killed by speeding bakkie MELISSA PAPIER
T
HE sound of screeching tyres and the loud bang of a bakkie colliding with a lamp post brought residents and traffic to a standstill last Tuesday in Kilimanjaro Street, Tafelsig. A bubbly and friendly little girl’s life was cut short after she was knocked down and killed by a speeding bakkie. Mariska Grace (6) was hit on the pedestrian crossing, her fragile body stuck between a lamp post and the bakkie on the opposite side of the road. Rosemary Grace, the grandmother of Mariska, tells People’s Post the accident “happened so quickly”. She says: “The road was clear when myself and Mariska crossed Kilimajaro Street. We were on the pedestrian crossing in the middle of
the road, when out of nowhere the bakkie came at a speed, knocking her down.” Grace was also carrying her fivemonth-old grandchild when the incident occurred. “The bakkie tried to swerve out of the way, but it was too late and it collided with a pole, dragging her body with it,” says Grace. The girl’s battered body was carried by a nurse to the Tafelsig Community Clinic, but on arrival she was declared dead. It’s understood that she died because of the impact and internal bleeding. The mother was too traumatised to speak to People’s Post, but Anne Dietkloff, a neighbour, described Mariska as a “special child”. “She was very quiet and loved playing outside with her friends. It’s sad that her live had to end in the way it did,” she added. A resident, who wished not be
ROAD OF DEATH: Traffic calming measures in Kilimanjaro Street, Tafelsig, has come under fire following the death of a sixyearold girl last Tuesday.
named for fear of victimisation, says the driver was driving too fast. “Speeding is an issue in this community. Drivers don’t care that there are small children and other pedestrians using the road. More needs to be done to reduce the road deaths occurring in this area,” says the woman. Spokesperson for Mitchell’s Plain police station, Constable Jerome Voegt, says at 12:40 on Tuesday the police received a report of a body at the Tafelsig Community Clinic. “Upon arrival at the clinic, officers were informed that a six-yearold minor was involved in an accident and that she was brought to the clinic for treatment. The girl was declared dead at the clinic,” says Voegt. It is alleged that the girl was knocked down by an 18-year-old woman, who is a learner driver. A culpable homicide docket has been opened. “At this stage we are investigation the circumstances surrounding the accident,” he said. Ward Councillor for the area, Sheval Arendse, says due to the width of Kilimanjaro Street and the pedestrian crossing at Tafelsig Library; two chicanes were built - one at 160 Kilimanjaro and another at 133 Kilimanjaro, and a four-way stop was in place at Paulsberg and Kilimanjaro streets – to reduce speeding. “On the day of the accident, the area was busy and it was All Pay grant day. There were many motorists using the T-junction that leads to the pedestrian crossing. The driver was at fault not to stop. “I was not there to see what hap-
HAVE YOU BEEN INJURED?
HEARTBROKEN: Rosemary Grace, the grandmother of Mariska (6), can’t believe her granddaughter has been killed. Photo: Melissa Papier pened. I will have to address this issue again at subcouncil via a motion for more traffic calming measures. A traffic circle will be welcomed at AZ Berman and Kilimanjaro streets, as this would reduce speeding,” Arendse added. Speed humps will cost about R15 000 each for a normal street, but as Kilimanjaro is wide it will double the amount. Following the
death of this girl, residents are complaining that drivers don’t adhere to the speed limit and other traffic rules. When asked how the incident could be prevented, Arendse agreed with residents, saying that motorists don’t adhere to traffic signs. Anyone with information can contact detective Constable Momelezi Mvimbi on (021) 370 1600.
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